Tag Archives: Disc reviews

Alamos

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by Emma

Photograph It is the forthcoming single from Scottish Trio Alamos. This is the second single and is due for release on July 25th.

Alamos are a funky new wave kind of band, imagine Franz Ferdinand guitar and beat with punk vocals! Photograph It is catchy, upbeat and I think it will live up to the rave reviews earned by the debut single Kill Baby Kill. B Track Lights Out continues the theme although slightly slowed down.

Definitely for fans of trendy rock, Alamos would appeal to a select audience, however they must have a few tricks up their collective sleeve since they were selected to support ace band Biffy Clyro, The Subways and Hell Is For Heroes to name but a few.

(This also appeared in August 2005 – issue 9)

The Rogers Sisters – Three Fingers – Album Review

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by Emma

Three Fingers is the second album from New Yorkers The Rogers Sisters, follow up to the debut Purely Evil that received high acclaim in 2003.

The Rogers Sisters are an energetic punk/garage band with a raw sound that is quire rare. The contrast of masculine sounding low vocals with high sweet girly vocals works well for the trio. The vocals are spat out in sing-speak with a humourous nursery rhyme quality.

Three Fingers is a collection of punky girl power tracks full of feist and grit. The guitar and drums have a nice clean sound. From the squeaky Fantasies Are Nice to the dark and upbeat freight train, the songs are all upbeat and funky, with catchy and high-spirited ‘one, two, three’ style lyrics and some good whispery creeping-up-on-someone music.

This one definitely grows on you – its one of those albums that gets more impressive with each listen, and I do really like it. The bonus tracks even include the French and Japanese versions of a couple of tracks so you can sing along in three languages!

The Boxer Rebellion – Exits – Album Review

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by Emma

Exits is The Boxer Rebellion’s debut album, following the first single release All You Do Is Talk.

Exits doesn’t fit cleanly into any of the categories of current rock music and is almost reminiscent of some indie music going back seven or eight years. This album is meaningful and has been written from the heart for all to hear. Lay me down is a fine example, combining light headed guitars and soft drums with pleading vocals.

Echoey vocals and spooky tunes make up several of the tunes from Flight to Cowboys And Engines. Watermelon, All You Do Is Talk and The New Heavy bring in a fuller sound, adding more power to the mix and making music of feedback. World Without End and The Absentee are gentle melodies, slow and graceful allowing the vocals to take more of the spotlight. It is on these tracks you can really appreciate the vocals, which are sad and haunting. You can hear the emotion that has been poured into Exits, and it certainly shows – a very good debut available to buy now.

The Marble Index – Album Review

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by Emma

Canadian outfit The Marble Index are refreshingly honest in their music. They remind me of the Violent Femmes in that they are fearless to experimenting with their sound and it almost seems that whatever pops out from vocalist Brad Germain’s mouth is what you get…and it sounds really good!

This album is fairly low key and mellow and is sweet enough to make you smile. The gentle tones of Alright by now and Not so bright and the funky twang of I Believe are quite delightful and I do really like this band. Easy listening and cute I think that The Marble Index will generate a lot of interest and command a great affection from listeners.

Hulk – Cowboy Coffee & Burned Knives – Album Review

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by Emma

Brussels trio Hulk are knocking on the door of the big time with their forthcoming album release Cowboy Coffee… available from 27 June 2005 on Suburban Records.

Hulk were lucky enough to be invited to the Rancho de la Luna studio (home to Queens of the Stone Age Desert Sessions recordings) where this album was nailed in little over a week!

The tracks sparkle with cutting guitars, smooth intoxicating vocals and some splendid riffs. Cowboy Coffee… is original and mixes the fast hard rock of It’s Allright and my favorite Real Rocker (which is catchy as hell by the way) with the velvety tones of Sorry and Down. There are a handful of real gems on here and only one or two weaker tracks out of twelve. A reminder of how rock music used to be and a taster of things to come.

Hulk are most definitely worth checking out, and if Cowboy Coffee & Burned Knives… hits the spot get hold of a copy of the debut album ‘Party Time’.

Funeral For A Friend – Streetcar – Single Review

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by Emma

Released 30 May 2005, Streetcar is the sterling follow up to the forthcoming Hours, follow up to the magnificent Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation.

Streetcar is an upbeat track that hides a painful underlying message about being away from family and friends, as always beautifully written and executed by the FFAF guys. The song digs deep from the guys’ experience, as Hours was written and produced in Seattle and entailed a lengthy stint in the states.

If Streetcar is anything to go by then we are most definitely in for a treat with Hours, due for release on 13 June. The track includes most of the FFAF traits that we all know and love – deliciously heavy guitars at the intro, melancholy lyrics, strong sweet vocals over a solid and creative drum beat (my personal favorite, Ryan’s triangle is back)!! No screams on this track though – we will just have to hold out for the album!

Funeral For A Friend are about to embark upon a 16 date sold out tour of the UK commencing 22 June supported by the mighty Bullet For My Valentine, A Static Lullaby and Gratitude, dates shown below. Tune in next month for the full gig review.

*****

June 22 Dublin Ambassador
June 23 Belfast Mandela Hall
June 24 Glasgow Barrowland
June 26 Newcastle Northumbria University
June 27 Norwich UEA
June 28 London Astoria
June 30 Leeds University
July 01 Cambridge Corn Exchange
July 03 Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
July 04 Sheffield Octagon
July 05 Southampton Guildhall
July 06 Nottingham Rock City
July 08 Manchester Academy
July 09 Birmingham Academy
July 10 Cardiff University
July 12 London Astoria

Simple Plan – Welcome To My Life – Single Review

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by Emma

Welcome To My Life is due for release on 20th June on Lava/Atlantic Records, and is taken from Simple Plan’s successful second album Still Not Getting Any (released February 2005).

Simple Plan are a delightful pop rock band for which they suffer criticism, however I think that they have a great sound and outlook and provide us with sing-along anthems for they enjoyments of people of all age groups and musical preferences. The boys’ proved themselves a worthy talent during their sell out mini-tour of the UK earlier this year and have earned support slots with rock veterans Greenday this month. Not well known is the fact that Simple Plan have co-written with Motley Crue.

Welcome To My Life is another fabulous tune which I bet everyone knows the word to already following regular play on the Kerrang music television channel and radio. Let’s give Simple Plan the recognition and support they deserve.

Corporation Blend – For All My Sins – Single Review

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by Emma

Are you ready for Corporation:blend? Prepare yourselves for a wild rampage of cyber keyboard and riproaring guitar as Rob Owen, Ash Howard, Andy Harrison and Dexy K unleash themselves upon your ears!

For All My Sins is a mysterious sleazefest of dirty glam punk rock. Sounding like nothing else that is around at this time Corporation:blend rip through the song with an unashamed confidence that is really appealing. Like seizing Bowie from the past and making him much more filthy and dangerously unpredictable. These guys are on fire.

Blew It takes a different shape altogether and is almost early Guns N’ Roses with the same don’t give a fuck attitude and gritty loudness. Guitar and drums are more prominent on this track, Owen demonstrates an impressive vocal capacity with ease. Close your eyes and vision big punk hair and glam make up, but in actual fact these guys are a far cry from the mental image they create.

Corporation:blend clearly have a lot to give, and I am sure that we will be hearing a lot more from them in the future if reports of their blistering awe-inducing live shows are anything to go by.

Bodyrockers – I Like The Way – Single Review

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by Emma

I Like The Way is a hard hitting dance and rock mix making big waves on the clubbing scene. Its more of the dance, less of the rock and absolutely massive on low growls of horny lines dirty enough to make your mum blush. But it works!

I am by no means a fan of dance music but I have to admit that Bodyrockers are on to something here! This track has a good bassline and a strong tune which explodes loudly at the chorus as I think any bold song should.

This single is already doing the rounds and is unavoidable – you are destined to know the words to this song – like it or not!